Four schools in the Wokingham borough have been awarded a prestigious national award for education for able and gifted students.

The National Association for Able Children in Education’s (NACE) Challenge Award was presented to pupils from Robert Piggott, Maiden Erlegh, The Piggott Junior and Polehampton Infant Schools at a celebration ceremony earlier this month.

The award is given for the quality of the work by the whole school, its teachers and governors, to challenge and encourage all pupils to achieve their best.

Helen Ball, headteacher at Polehampton Infant School, said: “We are delighted to receive recognition of our work in this area.

“Making appropriate provision for gifted and talented pupils is central to our work because we endeavour to prepare children for a successful future whatever their needs.”

Robert Piggott Junior School headteacher Lesley Turville said: “We are thrilled to be the first junior school in the Wokingham borough to receive this award and are delighted to have the hard work of everyone in the school recognised.”

Peter Thomas, headteacher of Maiden Erlegh, said: “Maiden Erlegh’s Challenge Award is obvious cause for celebration and an indication that the very brightest children have opportunities to excel at this school.”

Hilary Winter, The Piggott School’s head, said: “This award is an endorsement of this aspect of our work, of which we are all very proud.”